Multimethodology Towards Theory and Practice and Mixing and Matching Methodologies

by Mingers, John; Gill, Anthony

• ISBN13: 9780471974901
• ISBN10: 0471974900
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-10-07
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

This book proposes that using two or more management science methodologies in the same intervention is likely to produce a richer picture for "seeing and understanding the complex web of relationships and interconnectivities" which is likely to lead to better decision taking by managers and workers. This is what is meant by "multimethodology." In conclusion, the book explores several theoretical and philosophical perspectives on combining methodologies from different paradigms, as well as presenting many actual examples from practice.

Author Biography

John Mingers is Professor of OR and Information Systems and Director of Research at Kent Business School, University of Kent, UK. His research interests include the use of systems methodologies in problem situations, particularly the mixing of different methodologies within an intervention; the development of critical realism as a philosophy for information systems; the development of theory concerning the nature of information and meaning; and autopoiesis and its applications. He has published several books, including Self-Producing Systems: Implications and Applications of Autopoiesis and Information Systems: An Emerging Discipline?.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors	vii	(6)
Foreword	xiii	(2)
Professor Jonathan Rosenhead
Preface	xv
1 Multi-paradigm Multimethodology	1	(22)
John Mingers
Part 1--Practice of Multimethodology	23	(164)
Commentary	23	(6)
2 Mixing Methods in Practice: a Transformation-Competence Perspective	29	(30)
Richard Ormerod
3 Analysing Litigation and Negotiation: Using a Combined Methodology	59	(30)
Peter Bennett
Fran Ackermann
Colin Eden
Terry Williams
4 One Size Doesn't Fit All: Reflections on Using Systems Techniques in an Operational Setting	89	(16)
Jeremy Bentham
5 Using Models in Sequence: a Case Study of a Post-acquisition Intervention	105	(22)
Allenna Leonard
6 Status and Tendencies of Management Research: a Systems Oriented Perspective	127	(26)
Markus Schwaninger
7 Managing a Virtual Organization	153	(34)
Anthony Gill
Part 2--Cognitive Aspects of Multimethodology	187	(56)
Commentary	187	(2)
8 Becoming Multimethodology Literate: an Assessment of the Cognitive Difficulties of Working Across Paradigms	189	(28)
John Brocklesby
9 Multimethodologies--the Knowledge Perspective	217	(26)
David J. Skyrme
Part 3--Theory of Multimethodology	243	(198)
Commentary	243	(6)
10 Mixing Methods: Developing Systemic Intervention	249	(42)
Gerald Midgley
11 From Metatheory to "Multimethodology"	291	(32)
Robert Flood
Norma Romm
12 Multimethodology and Critical Theory: an Intersection of Interests?	323	(24)
Martin Spaul
13 Pluralism in Systems Thinking and Practice	347	(32)
Mike C. Jackson
14 Critiquing Multimethodology as Metamethodology: Working Towards Pragmatic Pluralism	379	(28)
Leroy White
Ann Taket
15 Towards Critical Pluralism	407	(34)
John Mingers
Index	441